Near successful iMac G3 Install

[Bryan Pierce <bdpierce3%bdpierce.com@localhost>]

Hello everyone!!

Woohoo!!!     It's been a bit of a challenge getting BSD installed. So 
it feels
good to especially good to be here!  I'm trying to learn Unix/Linux because
I believe it will be a great way to learn structured programming.

It seems like NetBSD should be an excellent choice. The documentation
on the NetBSD is incredible. So I am very happy to be here and look
forward to hopefully getting to know everyone here a little bit over time.

At first, I thought my questions would be pretty simple and basic, but 
it now
seems that I've got quite a few smaller questions, and I'll probably have
a few more by the time I'm done.

My biggest questions are
       (1) what tools or editors do I use to edit the
/etc/rc file (perhaps if I can get into multi-user mode some familiar text
editors will appear
        (2) is there a way easy or better way to install the
ofwboot.xcf bootloader files onto (they either were not installed - or 
if it did
the name got garbled)

I''ve been installing NetBSD on a Blueberry 333Mhz iMac with OFW 3.03
       

### I've made it at least 98% of the install process, but the system would
failed to reboot without a bit of nudge
       - there seems to be NO ofwboot.xcf file on the HFS+ partition 
that was created for it
       - Able to boot using the bootloader  on the install CD
       > boot    cd:,\ofwboot.xcf    hd:,7/netbsd

### The system boots into single-user mode with a "dumb" terminal, so I'm
having a hard time doing anything
       -The system boots and gives the following messages
               /etc/rc is not configured.  Multi-user aborted
               Warning about setting an account and using su instead of 
working in root
               No entry for terminal type "dumb";
               Using dumb terminal settings

       - The system mounts as read-only.
               -  Tried this command but it didn't work
                       # mount -u /  
                       mount_ffs : /dev/md0a on / type ffs readonly, local

               - So I tried this - and it did seem to work
                       # umount    /dev/md0a
                       # mount    /dev/wd0a   /
               - (btw, I have no idea what "md0" is so I don't know 
what I unmonted :P )

       ???-  What do I use to edit /etc/rc ???
               less / more doesn't cause the system to respond (if they 
are installed)
               nano / pico / vi / vim / emacs likewise seem 
unrecognizable to the sytem
                       ( ??? - could this be because I haven't edited 
/etc/rc yet?  :P  )


### My ultimate goal is to try to "install" ofwboot and ofwboot.xcf by 
copying them
to an HFS partition (then I can boot into Mac OS 9 via CD and copy them 
from there
to the HFS+ boot partition ( but I don't know if there is a better, 
easier, way)
       - I believe that I read that HFS+ is not recognizable by BSD, 
but that HFS
                can be used to transfer files
       ??? - I'm wondering if there is a better or easier way to 
accomplish this, like
               a tool that installs this
       - So I am thinking that I need to mount the HFS partition
               # mkdir    /dev/hde
               # mount_hfs   /dev/wd0e  /mnt/hde
       - and do the same with the cd partition so that I can copy the 
files using cp

Sorry if this turned into a long-read. I was trying to provide whatever 
details
I could. My sincere appreciation is expressed in advance for any 
assistance you
have to offer. And once again, I look forward to getting to know 
everyone and
to being a member of the NetBSD community!!!


Sincerest Regards,
Bryan Pierce